West Virginia University College Portrait
West Virginia UniversityPO Box 6210, Stewart Hall Morgantown, WV 26506
304-293-2121
West Virginia University
Founded in 1867, West Virginia University is the flagship land-grant, doctoral degree-granting research university in the state of West Virginia.
WVU provides its students with a cutting-edge education that will prepare them for the twenty-first century job market. Consistently ranked as one of higher education’s best buys, WVU’s 13 schools and colleges offer 188 degree programs, many with placement rates at or near 100 percent. Undergraduates and graduate students both have many research opportunities: WVU is home to internationally recognized researchers in forensic science, nanotechnology, the traditional and emerging energy industries, and neuroscience.
Living in the Mountaineers Community
Once a Mountaineer … Always a Mountaineer
The West Virginia University Mountaineer community is more than a physical location, and more than just a collection of people. Of course it does include a place, Morgantown, West Virginia, a beautiful mountain setting where opportunities to hike, mountain bike, kayak, rock climb, and ski are minutes away. Our community also includes over 28,000 students, 1,900-plus faculty, and more than 175,000 alumni. But the true Mountaineer community is a welcoming, lifelong family.
The Big Picture: How many students were on campus in Fall 2010?
More Information
| Total Students | 29,306 | |
|---|---|---|
Undergraduate Snapshot
| Total Undergraduate Students | 22,303 | |
|---|---|---|
| Gender | ||
| Women | 10,075 | 45% |
| Men | 12,228 | 55% |
| Race/Ethnicity | ||
| American Indian / Alaskan Native | 57 | <1% |
| Asian | 321 | 1% |
| African American / Black | 776 | 3% |
| Hispanic | 583 | 3% |
| Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander | 22 | <1% |
| White | 19,429 | 87% |
| Two or More Races | 469 | 2% |
| International | 488 | 2% |
| Race/Ethnicity Not Reported | 158 | 1% |
| Where do WVU undergraduates call home? | |
|---|---|
| West Virginia | 53% |
| Other US States & Territories | 45% |
| Other Countries | 2% |
| Residency Unknown | <1% |
| How old are WVU undergraduates? | |
| Average Age | 21 |
| Percent of Undergraduates Age 25 or Older | 7% |
New Student Applications (Fall 2010)
New Freshmen High School Background and Test Scores
Test(s) Required for Admission: SAT or ACT recommended
| Test Scores of Enrolled New Freshmen | ACT | SAT |
|---|---|---|
| Composite | 21 - 26 | |
| Math | 19 - 25 | 480 - 580 |
| English | 20 - 23 | |
| Critical Reading | 460 - 560 |
50% of admitted students have test scores within the ranges listed, 25% have scores above, and 25% have scores below.
| High School Background of Enrolled New Freshmen | ||
|---|---|---|
| Percent in top 25% of High School Graduating Class | 45% | |
| Percent in top 50% of High School Graduating Class | 76% | |
| Percent of New Freshmen who submitted HS GPA | 56% | |
| Average High School GPA (4-point scale) | 3.32 | |
| Percent who submitted High School GPA | 99% | |
Sticker Price: How much does it cost on average?
Typical Undergraduate Costs for 2010-11 without Financial Aid (Full-Time, In-State Students)
Total Typical Cost of Attendance: $17,186
Tuition for 2011-2012 academic year will be finalized approximately during the summer of 2011.Out-of-State & Other Costs
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The cost to attend West Virginia University varies based on the individual circumstances of students and may be reduced through grants and scholarships.
How much would I pay?
Financial Aid: How much help is there to pay?
Scholarships & Grants
- 36% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based grants or scholarships; the average award for the year was $5,029. Scholarships and grants are financial aid that does not need to be repaid and is sometimes referred to as gift aid.
Annual Need-Based Loans
- 42% of 2010-11 full-time undergraduates received need-based work-study and/or loans (not including parent loans); the average loan for the year was $75. Loans need to be repaid. Typically, repayment starts once you are no longer enrolled full-time. Please refer to page 12 of the Funding Education Beyond High School guide on the US Department of Education's Federal Student Aid website for more information about Financial Need.
Percent of 2008-2009 Full-time Beginning Students Receiving Each Type of Financial Aid
NOTE: Students may receive aid from more than one source.
WVU Classes & Instructors
| Classroom Environment | |
|---|---|
| Students per Faculty | 23 to 1 |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 30 students | 62% |
| Undergraduate classes with fewer than 50 students | 80% |
| Total Full-Time Instructional Faculty | 935 |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Female | 39% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Are Persons of Color | 13% |
| % of Full-Time Instructional Faculty Who Have the Highest Academic Degree Offered in Their Field of Study | 80% |
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Campus-based Housing
84% of new freshmen live in campus-based housing or residence halls.
26% of all undergraduates live on campus
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Campus Safety
We have a wide variety of Crime Prevention Programs from orientation training for new employees and students, Operation ID, Operation Lock-Out in Residence Halls, to “You Could Have Been Ripped Off."
Campus Crime Statistics
Carnegie Classification of Institutional Characteristics
The Carnegie Classification's were created "to reference the great diversity of colleges and universities in the United States, and ... enable [people] to identify groups of roughly comparable institutions." For information on the Carnegie Classifications system, please visit their website: http://classifications.carnegiefoundation.org/
- Basic Type
- Research Universities (high research activity)
- Size and Setting
- Large four-year, primarily residential
- Enrollment Profile
- High undergraduate
- Undergraduate Profile
- Full-time four-year, selective, lower transfer-in
- Undergraduate Instructional Program
- Balanced arts & sciences/professions, high graduate coexistence
- Graduate Instructional Program
- Comprehensive doctoral with medical/veterinary
NOTE: Institutional classifications based on the Carnegie 2005 edition.
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Student Activities and Involvement at WVU
Students who are actively involved in their own learning and development are more likely to be successful in college. Colleges and universities offer students a wide variety of opportunities both inside and outside the classroom to become engaged with new ideas, people, and experiences. Institutions measure the effectiveness of these opportunities in a variety of ways to better understand what types of activities and programs students find the most helpful.
Institutions participating in the VSA program measure student involvement on campus using one of four national surveys. Results from the one survey are reported for a common set of questions selected as part of VSA. Following are the selected results from the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE). The questions have been grouped together in categories that are known to contribute to student learning and development. The results reported below are based on the responses of seniors who participated in the survey.
Group Learning Experiences
- 93% percent of seniors worked with classmates on assignments outside of class.
- 56% of seniors tutored or taught other students
- 23% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week participating in co-curricular activities such as student organizations and intramural sports
Active Learning Experiences
- 86% of seniors spent at least 6 hours per week preparing for class
- 22% of seniors worked on a research project with a faculty member
- 54% of seniors participated in an internship, practicum, or field experience
- 65% of seniors participated in community service or volunteer work
- 11% of seniors participated in study abroad
- 92% of seniors made at least one class presentation last year
Institutional Commitment to Student Learning and Success
- 96% of seniors believe this institution provides support for student success
- 65% of seniors rated the quality of academic advising at this institution as good or excellent
- 66% of seniors reported that this institution provided help in coping with work, family and other non-academic responsibilities
- 94% of seniors reported working harder than they thought they could to meet an instructor's standards or expectations
Student Interaction with Campus Faculty and Staff
- 50% of seniors believed that the campus staff were helpful, considerate, or flexible
- 78% of seniors believed that faculty are available, helpful, or sympathetic
- 97% of seniors reported that faculty members provided prompt feedback on their academic performance
- 71% of seniors discussed readings or ideas with faculty members outside of class
Experiences with Diverse Groups of People and Ideas
- 63% of seniors reported that they often tried to understand someone else's point of view
- 86% of seniors reported their experience at this institution contributed to their understanding people of other racial and ethnic backgrounds
- 50% of seniors often had serious conversations with students of a different race or ethnicity
Student Satisfaction
- 86% of seniors would attend this institution if they started over again
- 89% of seniors rated their entire educational experience as good or excellent
- 85% of seniors reported that other students were friendly or supportive
Evaluation of Experiences
Survey Administration Process
Survey Information
Majors and Degrees
| Degrees awarded at West Virginia University in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| Bachelor's | 4,009 |
| Master's | 1,487 |
| Doctoral | 598 |
| Total | 6,094 |
More Information
| Areas of Study with the largest number of bachelor's degrees awarded in 2009-10 | |
|---|---|
| BUSINESS, MANAGEMENT, MARKETING, AND RELATED SUPPORT SERVICES | 12% |
| MULTI/INTERDISCIPLINARY STUDIES | 10% |
| ENGINEERING | 9% |
| COMMUNICATION, JOURNALISM, AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 9% |
| HEALTH PROFESSIONS AND RELATED PROGRAMS | 8% |
| Links to degree programs at West Virginia University |
|---|
Bachelor'sMaster'sDoctoral |
Student Success & Progress Rate
A 86% four-year success and progress rate means that 86% of students starting in Fall 2004 either graduated or are still enrolled at a higher education institution four years later.
Counts for the Fall 2004 entering class shown in the graph above.
- 4,330 First-Time, Full-Time Students
- 806 Full-Time Transfer Students
Success & Progress Rate Table
Retention of Freshman Class
First-time students in Fall 2009 that returned for their second year: 80%
More Information
Student Learning at West Virginia University
All colleges and universities use multiple approaches to measure student learning. Many of these are specific to particular disciplines, many are coordinated with accrediting agencies, and many are based on outcomes after students have graduated.
The West Virginia University Assessment Council (WVUAC) works with the WVU-Main Campus and its regional divisions to provide resources devoted to sharing best assessment practices, and enhancing student learning through assessment activities. The WVUAC holds monthly meetings to review and provide counsel to program-level assessment activities submitted as part of BOG Program Reviews, and its goals include strengthening the effectiveness of assessment programs at all levels aimed at enhancing students learning; assisting and helping to create an institutional culture of assessment; aligning the institutional assessment plan with the WVU mission, and serving as an institutional clearinghouse for assessment best practices from around the country. The goals and activities of the WVUAC serve as a conduit to the following student learning activities:
• Ability to critically examine information and solve problems
• Communicate effectively, both written and verbal
• Apply methods of critical reasoning to the understanding and analysis of issues across disciplines
• Establish skills of life-long learning and scholarly inquiry
Student learning outcomes assist faculty to develop courses, syllabi, learning activities, and to employ methods to gather evidence about learning and progress. Student learning outcomes also provide a framework for discussions and planning for students' undergraduate programs at West Virginia University.
Learning Assessment Examples
Pilot Project to Measure Core Learning Outcomes
Colleges and universities participating in the College Portrait measure the typical improvement in students' abilities to think, reason, and write using one of three tests. This is part of a pilot project to better understand and compare what students learn between their freshman and senior years at different colleges and universities.
2009-10 Results from the Collegiate Learning Assessment
The Collegiate Learning Assessment (CLA) measures critical thinking, analytic reasoning, problem solving, and written communication using a performance task and an analytic writing task. The scores from the tasks are reported separately below.
Test Administration Process
Test Information
Performance Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the performance task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1059
Senior Score: 1170
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1091
Senior Score: 1108
Analytic Writing Task Results for First-time, Full-time Students
The increase in learning on the analytic writing task is above what would be expected at an institution testing students of similar academic abilities.
Freshman Score: 1117
Senior Score: 1284
CLA score range: 400 to no maximum score.
Average EEA scores for tested students
Freshman Score: 1091
Senior Score: 1108